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The website was blocked shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday criticized Turkish leaders in a televised national call-in show, stating, "We have problems with some political leaders (in Turkey) whose behavior, actions we consider inappropriate."

But what has gone unnoticed is that western media has already blacked out this news item.

obviously in fear that giving publicity to such a statement from Putin will be wildly popular amongst western masses.

this will show up the schism in propaganda and reality.

so coming back to it again, what is difference between *baghdad bob* and *western media*. Both can hide their head in the sand and pretend no threat is around.

in latest episode the rats used a network of tunnels to bypass the fwd defences of saa in the town and got behind into soft areas, but something gave them away and they were hunted down and chased off. combined the 3 attacks last week cost some 80 rats. not that daesh cares about body counts.

Speaking of body counts, the US claims that US airstrikes have killed over 25,000 (that's right, over twenty-five thousand) Daesh. But damaged only the odd whisky bottle there or boot-strap buckle here or caused a flat tire on a jeep, per the Weakly Air Operations Reports. I cannot make out what is going on. A far cry from the GOAT Phase 1 where they announced the number of sorties and kind of aircraft, from which the 'yield' in Pakis KIA per Mission could be easily estimated, and ran into well over 180,000.

The Russians meanwhile do not publish body counts - probably because they only bomb hospitals and kindergartens as some of our expert enthusiasts have been claiming.

Any light on this mystery?

Also, I was wondering, with the pic of the Iraqi Shia/Catholic warrior Abdul bin Ouseph ul Parasuwali with the nice sword/axe and all, will we see a phase where large numbers of ISIS are just rounded up and mowed down en masse, like tens of thousands, thereby sending a good educational message to would-b jehadis in Hyderabad and Malappuram? This would be a great service to world peace and civilization.

“The inhabitants are gradually coming back to Syrian cities and peaceful life is returning,” the head of the Russian General Staff’s operations department Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy told reporters at the time. “In this context, the implementation of humanitarian operations will be a new line of work for the Russian armed forces in Syria.”

Chokes me up and brings tears to the eyes.

The first airdrops were made even before the ceasefire went into effect on February 27. The truce doesn’t apply to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Al-Nusra Front, or other organizations designated by the United Nations’ Security Council to be terrorist.

ISIS militants besieged Deir Ezzor in May 2015, about the same time the jihadist groups captured the ancient city of Palmyra. While technically under Damascus command, the city has been cut off by the terrorists, who also run free inside the city, and regularly undermine the supply deliveries by assaulting the city’s airbase. For almost a year the elite Republican Guards of the 104th Airborne Brigade has successfully repelled the jihadist attacks.

On Saturday the Syrian army once again drove back the Islamic State's assault on the Deir Ezzor airport which tried to storm the strategic airfield from the west and the south flanks. According to reports 48 jihadists were killed as the Syrian army stood ground.

After retaking Palmyra last month, the Syrian army with the help of the Russian air force has broadened its operations against ISIS and vowed to retake Deir Ezzor, before moving on to the terrorists’ so-called capital of Raqqa.

The use of the Su-30s to conduct this "UN-requested" delivery is especially meaningful and communicative.

The plaque on the wall behind/over his head appears to have a cross-like symbol, (but too symmetric about the horizontal axis to be an actual cross - and there are two candlesticks/lamps on the shelf underneath. Do Shiites allow this? But then, ISIS symbol also has some sort of cross, probably symbolizing all those whom they intend to crucify. What a land! Religious tolerance and cross-tribal altrusim at its finest.

7 h ago: A conglomeration of ultra-extremist groups waged today morning a violent attack on the government-held town of Khirbet al-Naqous in Hama countryside, forcing the Army to retreat from several positions and barricades. According to a field commander, the Syrian Armed Forces prematurely blew up a VBIED with a guided anti-amour missile, killing the Saudi suicide bomber Abu Musa’ab al-Jazrawi. “Hundreds of militants from Jund- al-Aqsa, Turkistan Islamic Party and al-Nusra Front simultaneously attacked our fortifications in Khirbet al-Naqous. We pulled out to assimilate the offensive”, the field commander said.

In a related context, pro-rebel social media accounts reported that rebel command lost the radio contact with a group of militants who tried to infiltrate into Khirbet al-Naqous after being hit by a Syrian fighter jet. The government troops attempted yesterday to advance east of Khirbet al-Naqous, aiming to recapture the strategic Grain Silos in Al-Mansoura. However, the hardline militants managed to repel the assault and launch a counterattack.

The rebel offensive in Lattakia has temporarily failed. SAA has mint new Russian ware on that front now as per Leith Fadel.

Al Ghab plains are seeing new rebel offensives. This has led to 02 groups from Tiger Forces to redeploy to this front.

Rebels had attacked and taken over Al Eis in Southern Aleppo in the past.

ISIS had meanwhile attacked in Yarmouk camp where the SAA and Palestinian committee are striking back. ISIS attack on/ near Qulamoun / Dumayr has been beaten back by SAA. ISIS also attacked east of Khanasser - Aleppo highway. SAA was able to beat them back.

All the above happened once SAA was able to capture Palmyra and Quraytayn and got ready to strike at Dier Ez Zor. End result of the subsequent ISIS and rebel offensive against SAA :

during the ceasefire, SAA put all efforts into fighting ISIS.the rebels sat back, rested and stockpiled arms and then struck everywhere.SAA got no rest. if they had more manpower , some units could be rested and refitted for 2 months

In general the Shiites are a more tolerant and accommodating lot, probably because they have been on the receiving end of Sunni wrath for over a millennium. This may explain why at least in some degree, for instance, why the Christian Nationalist Aoun group in Lebanon allied with them, and I think still do (not following closely).

The picture of Abu Azrael above is in a church (probably of the Orthodox variety, judging from the shape of the cross). However, the picture is not indicative in any way of what he did there. You will note that he is holding a Koran with a gold-gilted sword printed on the cover. Given the general attitude of the photo though, I am inclined to think this is a church liberated from the ISIS held areas by a Shiite armed group of which he was a part, or arrived on the scene immediately afterwards. That he is himself Muslim is easily settled by the two darkened spots on his forehead (visible on some photos). BRFites will easily recognise that as a standard discolouration emerging from the daily prayer routine - plenty of Indians carry it proudly as a sign of devotion.

JE Menon wrote:He is probably Iranian SF. In the local context they are pretty effective at myth-making and leveraging social media.

Abu Azrael and his band of Shia militia have been around for a while now. They are Iraqi but I am pretty sure they get funded by all Shia backers including Iran. They are like the group in the mold of "Inglorious Ba$tards ". Not big enough for leading offensives and territory capture but more active in guerrilla action. Small ambushes and fear tactics against ISIS. They have quite a following in Iraq.

Abu Azrael is described in various sources as a Shia who is a 40-year-old former university lecturer and a one-time Taekwondo champion,[6] although other sources dispute that and suggest that this back-story may be fabricated.[7]Reports from March 2015 claimed that Azrael is a father of five, and lives an "ordinary life" when not on the battlefield.[8]

If not wrong NATO air forces also operating in this area, only a matter of time till Russia will reciprocate the action and arm Hezbollah with stingers. 1000s of flights in and out of ME are put at risk with this move of US. As usual it is US who started this.

If not wrong NATO air forces also operating in this area, only a matter of time till Russia will reciprocate the action and arm Hezbollah with stingers. 1000s of flights in and out of ME are put at risk with this move of US. As usual it is US who started this.

Sadly, the logical outcome of this Erdogan is that Turkish airlines has suddenly become as exciting as the bus service from Damascus to Raqqa. One presented with a Made In Turkey Stinger, Brought Right 2 Ur Seat By Ur Dear PM Erdogan, will do wonders for Erdogan's mass appeal (and lamppost prospects).